Tom Dvorak

Practice Focus

Tom Dvorak is a Veterans Disability Attorney at Berry Law who focuses on developing persuasive appeals designed to give Veterans the strongest possible path to a grant of benefits. He approaches each matter with a deep understanding of legal entitlement theories, procedural strategy, and the practical realities of navigating the VA system. Tom is especially focused on identifying every relevant legal avenue that can support a client’s case, whether that means advancing a new theory of entitlement, recognizing an effective date issue, or building an appeal that gives the Veteran the fullest possible opportunity for success.

Role at Berry Law

At Berry Law, Tom’s day-to-day work centers on arguing appeals for benefits as effectively as possible and ensuring that Veterans are not turned away because of technical or procedural roadblocks. He has said that he believes every Veteran is an American hero and that the legal team’s role is to be “heroes to our heroes” by helping them navigate a system that is often complex and confusing. That philosophy is reflected in the way he builds cases: with close attention to detail, a thorough understanding of the law, and a willingness to press every viable argument on a client’s behalf.

One especially meaningful result involved a client whose file revealed an effective date issue that allowed for a much earlier award than initially recognized. Tom successfully argued for the earlier date, and the client received a substantial backpay award along with an increased rating to 100%. Matters like that illustrate the practical difference that careful legal analysis can make in a Veteran’s life and underscore the importance of understanding not only what a client is entitled to, but also how to secure the full value of that entitlement.

Service to Veterans

Although Tom is not a Veteran himself, military service is an important part of his family history. He is the son, grandson, nephew, and brother-in-law of Veterans, and that personal connection has shaped the respect he brings to this work. He believes service members make immense sacrifices for the country and continue to carry those sacrifices after leaving uniform. His goal is to serve those who have served by making sure they are not shut down by procedural barriers or incomplete legal analysis.

Tom also brings a particularly valuable perspective from his time as an adjudicator at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, where he worked for three years. That experience gave him in-depth training in various aspects of VA law and firsthand knowledge of how VA adjudicators evaluate claims under different factual scenarios. He now uses that background to anticipate how a decision-maker is likely to view a case and to develop appeals that directly address the points most likely to matter.

Background & Interests

Outside of work, Tom is a second-degree black belt and is interested in history and politics. He is also a published author; his novel Successor of Erenden was published in 2015. Among his most prized possessions is an 1895 county map, a testament to the same curiosity and eye for detail that define his work. In his free time, he enjoys writing and studying the kinds of stories and systems that shape the world around him.